Shueisha

What Shueisha does

Shueisha Inc. is one of Japan's "Big Three" manga publishers alongside Kodansha and Shogakukan, headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo and operating as a privately held subsidiary of the Hitotsubashi Group conglomerate. Founded in 1926, the company employs approximately 749 people (as of August 2025) and built its position around Weekly Shonen Jump, the world's best-selling manga magazine launched in 1968. The portfolio extends across multiple magazine titles, literary imprints (Shueisha Shinsho, Cobalt Bunko), light novels, educational manga, and audiobooks. The company monetizes through five primary revenue streams: print publication sales via Japanese bookstores and convenience stores; digital content subscriptions on proprietary platforms Manga Plus (launched 2019) and Shonen Jump+; licensing and royalty income from anime, live-action, and merchandise rights; book and literary publication sales; and audiobook sales. Manga tankobon volumes are typically priced between 480-770 yen, and Manga Plus operates on a freemium model offering free recent chapters with a paid premium tier for full archive access.

The company's competitive position rests on an exceptionally deep manga IP catalog, including One Piece (over 500 million copies sold), Jujutsu Kaisen (150+ million), My Hero Academia (100+ million), and Bleach (130 million). Shueisha operates a manga-to-anime-to-live-action-to-merchandise flywheel that drives international growth: it licenses streaming rights to Crunchyroll and Netflix, produces anime adaptations through partners such as CyberAgent's Cypic studio, WIT Studio, Toei Animation, and Shochiku, and recently renewed Netflix's live-action One Piece for additional seasons. International distribution is executed through Manga Plus and Shonen Jump+ (global digital platforms), licensed overseas publishers (Viz Media, Kodansha Comics), and the company's 2025 investment in REMOW for global video distribution. The firm is also active in IP protection, securing a November 2025 Tokyo District Court damages award against Cloudflare for manga piracy hosting, and is participating in a Japan METI-backed generative AI translation subsidy program to accelerate international content delivery.

Name

Shueisha

Legal name

株式会社集英社

Website

https://shueisha.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Shueisha is one of Japan's "Big Three" manga publishers, founded 1926 in Tokyo, publishing Weekly Shonen Jump and a global IP catalog (One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, Bleach). It monetizes via print sales, Manga Plus/Shonen Jump+ digital subscriptions, and anime/live-action licensing to Netflix, Crunchyroll, and global partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Manga Publishing

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (513120), Book Publishers (51313), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Manga Publishing (Japanese & Global) (MPAJAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Comics, Manga & Serialized Reading Platforms (BPAMAJAJ), Children’s & All-Ages Comics Publishing (MPAJAGAI), Adult/Seinen/Josei Comics Publishing (MPAJAGAJ), Genre & Category Publishing (Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Sci‑Fi/Fantasy, etc.) (MPAJAAAB)

Keywords

• Manga publishing
• Literary publishing
• Digital manga platforms
• Anime IP licensing
• Comic book publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Print Publication Sales: Revenue from selling physical magazines (Weekly Shonen Jump, Weekly Young Jump, etc.) and comic volumes (tankobon) through bookstores and convenience stores in Japan
2. Digital Content Subscriptions: Revenue from digital manga platform Manga Plus and Shonen Jump+ subscription services offering online access to serialized manga
3. Licensing and Royalties: Revenue from licensing manga and anime adaptation rights to domestic and international production companies, as well as merchandise rights
4. Book and Literary Publications: Revenue from publishing novels, essays, non-fiction, and literary works through various imprints including Shueisha Shinsho, Kobunsha Bunko, and general literature divisions
5. Audiobook Sales: Revenue from audiobooks based on published literary works

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Shueisha publishes and distributes manga magazines (including Weekly Shonen Jump, Weekly Young Jump), comic volumes (tankobon), novels, literary works, and educational manga. The company also operates proprietary digital manga reading platforms (Manga Plus and Shonen Jump+) and licenses its manga IP for anime adaptations, live-action productions, and merchandise worldwide.

Product overview

Shueisha operates as a comprehensive manga and publishing company with a multi-platform portfolio. At its core is Weekly Shonen Jump, the flagship weekly manga magazine featuring serialized shonen titles. The company distributes content digitally through Manga Plus (global platform) and Shonen Jump+ app, while maintaining traditional print publishing through comics/traditionally bound volumes, novels, and educational manga. Key product lines include the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine publishing flagship series, the Manga Plus digital reading platform offering global simultaneous releases, the Shonen Jump+ app for digital manga access, collected volume (tankōbon) releases, audiobooks, and specialized imprints like Cobalt Bunko (light novels) and Shueisha Shinsho (nonfiction essays). The company also produces learning manga educational content and literary works. Shueisha's manga series are adapted across multiple media including anime (both TV and film), live-action productions, and games, with major franchises like One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, and newer titles like Kagurabachi driving significant IP value.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Manga Plus: Digital manga reading platform launched in 2019 for global distribution of Shueisha titles including Weekly Shonen Jump series.
• Weekly Shonen Jump (週刊少年ジャンプ)

Products and services

• Weekly Shonen Jump
• Manga Plus
• Shonen Jump+
• Comics / Tankobon Volumes
• Audiobooks
• Learning Manga (教育まんが)
• Novels and Literary Works
• Cobalt Bunko
• Shueisha Shinsho

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CrunchyrollcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 26 June 2026Crunchyroll holds streaming rights for the Kagurabachi anime outside select Asian territories. The anime will stream globally on Crunchyroll following its premiere screenings at anime conventions starting July 2026.
• Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)minorOthers · 25 June 2026METI is offering a $70 million (11.5 billion yen) subsidy to approximately 15 companies including Shueisha to encourage use of generative AI for translations, as part of efforts to accelerate content delivery to foreign markets.
• CyberAgent (Cypic studio)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2026CyberAgent's animation studio Cypic (formerly CygamesPictures) is producing the TV anime adaptation of Kagurabachi, scheduled for April 2027 broadcast. CyberAgent serves as co-chief production partner alongside Shochiku for the anime project.
• ShochikucoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2026Shochiku is co-chief production partner for Kagurabachi anime alongside CyberAgent. The film distribution company handles production committee leadership for anime projects.
• REMOWminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 31 March 2026Shueisha invested in REMOW, a company that handles worldwide distribution of Japanese video content, supporting international expansion of Shueisha's media properties.
• NetflixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 30 October 2025Netflix produces live-action adaptations of One Piece in partnership with Shueisha and Tomorrow Studios. Season 2 premiered March 2026, Season 3 titled 'The Battle of Alabasta' scheduled for 2027.
• Tomorrow StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2025Tomorrow Studios produces Netflix's One Piece live-action series in partnership with Shueisha. The studio is responsible for production alongside Netflix.
• WIT StudiominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2025WIT Studio is collaborating with Toei Animation and Fuji Television on a new One Piece anime series adaptation separate from the Netflix live-action.
• Toei AnimationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2025Toei Animation is collaborating on a new One Piece anime series adaptation alongside WIT Studio and Fuji Television Network.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Viz Media: Joint venture of Shueisha and Shogakukan; the largest English-language manga publisher. Directly comparable as Shueisha's primary global manga licensing arm in North America.
• Shogakukan: Fellow 'Big Three' Japanese manga publisher and Hitotsubashi Group sibling company. Publishes Weekly Shōnen Sunday and other leading magazines, and co-owns Viz Media with Shueisha — directly comparable in scale, IP library, and global licensing.
• Kodansha: One of Japan's 'Big Three' manga publishers alongside Shueisha and Shogakukan; publishes Weekly Shōnen Magazine, Attack on Titan, and Sailor Moon, and operates Kodansha Comics for English releases. Directly comparable in serialized manga publishing and global licensing.
• Kadokawa: Major Japanese publisher of manga, light novels, and anime IP (Sword Art Online, Re:Zero, Oshi no Ko). Comparable in publishing-driven anime IP incubation and multi-media franchises.
• Hakusensha: Hitotsubashi Group affiliate focused on shōjo and seinen manga (Hana to Yume, Berserk). Same parent conglomerate as Shueisha and directly comparable in serialized manga publishing.
• Square Enix: Publishes manga via Monthly Gangan Joker and others (Fullmetal Alchemist, Final Fantasy XV comics). Comparable in manga publishing with strong anime/games adjacency.

Broad incumbents

• Netflix: Global streaming incumbent and major Shueisha partner (One Piece live-action). Comparable as both a global monetization channel for Japanese manga/anime IP and an adjacent media competitor for audience attention.
• Crunchyroll: Largest global anime streaming platform and key distribution partner for Shueisha's adaptations. Comparable as a destination for Shueisha-originated IP and as a broader anime streaming incumbent.

Emerging players

• WEBTOON Entertainment: Operator of the global Webtoon digital comics platform and parent of Wattpad. Competes for digital reading time and ad/subscription revenue against Manga Plus/Shonen Jump+, especially with younger Western readers.

Others

• Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions (ShoPro): Hitotsubashi Group affiliate handling licensing, media production, and rights management for Shueisha and Shogakukan IP. Comparable as an enabling ecosystem participant for Shueisha's media adaptations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/shueisha_pr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzBxT\_MSz0\_S3X7L3Dv6L0A
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shueisha-inc-

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments5 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shueisha